The First Failed Christian Democracy

Christmas and New Years will soon pass and we will face the onslaught of the political year.  The glory of democracy will be touted and the pundits will affirm that majority rule is as American as mom and apple pie.





But what of majority rule "alone:?  Is majority rule, alone, moral and just?  The answer is that it is not.  When the majority departs from truth it cannot be moral.  It cannot be just.




On Good Friday Pontius Pilate was informed directly that Christ came to give us truth, he was truth, itself.  But Pilate, being confused or belligerent, doubted that truth could exist: "Quid est veritas?".  And he painted himself into a corner of relativism.  With no certainty of truth he cowardly turned to the crowd.  "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews?".  He took a poll; he wanted to hear the opinion of the majority.  Jesus' followers were also cowards and fled; they did not vote.  Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea may have remained for the vote but were surely shouted down.  John stayed but was focused on caring for Mary.





Tragically, the majority, too, had complete disregard for truth.  They voted for Barabbas.  They voted against the truth.  And Jesus Christ was crucified.





Today, truth lingers only in disjointed pieces among the political candidates.  Some are aware of the truth of the protection of life and the sanctity of marriage and others are aware of the truth of the dignity of workers and stewardship over creation.  But very few seem to hold to complete truth, apparently directed by the political wind gusts.  Voting Catholics must prioritize truth and the truth of life at all stages is paramount. 




Democracy may fail this year.  We have an obligation to act and to speak, not because we want democracy but because we demand truth.

The Manger, Source of Nourishment

The ox knows his owner and the ass his master's crib, Isaiah 1:3.

St. Francis was first to make a living nativity.  He recreated the seen and enhanced the biblical narrative adding farm animals nearby the holy family.  

This early 14th century piece, by Giotto, depicts the newborn Jesus.  Mary is placing the swaddled babe in the manger.  She will sleep at his side under the protection of a roof structure.  The shepherds watch from outside; they seem to still have eyes fixed on the angels overhead.  Their fear is gone but their wonder remains.  Joseph, so weary, sits at the bedside, apart from the protection of the roof.  His eyelids droop but he stays awake, head on hand.

The sheep sit unaware and uncaring; an apparent obstinant goat turns his back.  But the ox and ass know.  They do not rest but instead wait and offer the manger to Mary for Jesus (through Mary to Jesus!).  The manger is the source of their nourishment; it is where they eat.  Jesus will sleep on the hay, their food.  

They, the ox and ass know and seek him.  Later those who would know and seek Jesus would be nourished spiritually by him in the eucharist.

Wishing for Beauty and Sin

Over at Crux, Margery Eagan laments poor mass attendance in America.  In her reasoning she rounds up the usual suspects - folks do not get up Sunday morning and head to mass because the Church is "anti-woman...anti-gay".  In her opinion, it's teaching is just plain Neanderthal....the usual blather.

But she also goes on to say that the modern mass itself is a problem:

"...quality matters. Mass can’t be a cringe-a-thon, either, when it’s supposed to be delivering the good news of salvation from the charismatic man who brought it to us 2,000 years ago. So how come so few of us feel good or inspired or even spiritually uplifted after Sunday Mass?  [at most parishes]...there’s bad preaching, worse music. Predictably, almost no one shows up. What does the Church expect? Once upon a time, pre-Vatican II, the MYSTERY OF THE LATIN MASS AND THE BEAUTY OF THE ANCIENT CHANTS  made up for some of the Church’s Neanderthal stands. For 45 minutes or an hour, you were uplifted, even transported."

For 45 minutes or an hour, you were uplifted, even transported...In the Latin Mass, you are uplifted by beauty.  In Veritatis Splendor, St John Paul II wrote that "The light of God's face shines in all its beauty on the countenance of Jesus Christ, "the image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15), the "reflection of God's glory" (Heb 1:3), "full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14). Christ is "the way, and the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6)."  Christ's beauty is seen at the mass.  And Christ is also truth.  There is no possible separation in the beauty of the mass and the truth of the Church.  Ms. Eagan seems searching for this distinction, the beautiful mass in an immoral church.  The ancient mass comes with ancient truth - even prehistoric truth, Neanderthal truth.

The Holy Father Does It Again

“Fundamentalism is a sickness that is in all religions,” said the Pontiff. “We Catholics have some — and not some, many — who believe they possess the absolute truth and go ahead dirtying the other with calumny, with disinformation, and doing evil. They do evil. I say this because it is my Church.”

The tradosphere is ablaze with claims of victimhood.  He's talking about me!!!

Not so fast.  Who are these evil fundamentalists?  They surely cannot be you're run of the mill Latin Mas goer, not even the ardent.  Would the pope really be extending olive branches in the year of mercy to the fsspx if he though they were doing evil?  No, of course not.

So, who are these evil doers?  These calumnizing "fundamentalists" who believe they (and they alone) hold the absolute truth?  Let's see...

If you adhere to neo-Feeneyism and you think everyone is damned who isn't a formal member of a Catholic parish, you might be a fundamentalist.

If you tell people that all Catholics must promote young earth, talking snake, type Creation, you might be a fundamentalist.

If you call other Catholics heretics for believing the sun is the center of our solar system, you might be a fundamentalist.

If you told a relative at thanksgiving dinner they commit sacrilege by attending the ordinary form of the mass, you might be a fundamentalist.

Yes, these folks exist.  Chances are the Holy Father was not referring to you.  But then again..... 

Wonderful News!

The Georgetown Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form) Community announces that a votive First Friday Missa Cantata of the Sacred Heart will be offered Friday evening, December 4, at 6:00 pm in Copley Crypt Chapel at Georgetown University. This Mass is being added to our seven-day schedule.


Copley Crypt Chapel is located at the rear of Copley Hall, immediately to the north of Healy Hall on the main campus of Georgetown University, 3700 O Street NW, Washington.

http://dclatinmass.com/2015/11/29/georgetown-tlm-scheduled-friday-evening-at-copley-crypt-chapel-8/